Understanding Scripture with Protestant Principles

It’s Monday, plus a new month, and that means time to take a look at the newest issue of Tabletalk, the monthly devotional from Ligonier Ministries. The January 2011 issue is devoted to the theme of “The New Testament Epistles”, and the daily devotionals will start covering the prison epistles of Paul beginning with Colossians. R.C.Sproul’s opening article, “Knowing Scripture” sets forth the fundamental principles of Reformed Bible interpretation, a subject of continued importance to every Protestant Christian.

Sproul has also written a book by this title (Knowing Scripture, available through Ligonier) in which he expands on these basic hermeneutical principles. And since most of us are in the season of organized Bible study in our churches, it is worthwhile reading to make sure we are following these principles. I encourage you to read Sproul’s brief article at the link below.

Don’t forget that you can read several of the articles in each issue of Tabletalk online at Ligonier’s website for free (I have a link on my sidebar). But better yet, spend the $23 to get your own subscription and read the whole issue, cover to cover! It is money well-spent. And here is a quote from it to get you going:

At the time of the Reformation, to stop unbridled, speculative, and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, the Reformers set forth the fundamental axiom that should govern all biblical interpretation. It is called the analogy of faith, which basically means that Holy Scripture is its own interpreter. In other words, we are to interpret Scripture according to Scripture. That is, the supreme arbiter in interpreting the meaning of a particular verse in Scripture is the overall teaching of the Bible.

Behind the principle of the analogy of faith is the prior confidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. If it is the Word of God, it must therefore be consistent and coherent. Cynics, however, say that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. If that were true, then we would have to say that the smallest mind of all is the mind of God. But there is nothing inherently small or weak to be found in consistency. If it is the Word of God, one may justly expect the entire Bible to be coherent, intelligible, and unified. Our assumption is that God, because of His omniscience, would never be guilty of contradicting Himself. It is therefore slanderous to the Holy Spirit to choose an interpretation of a particular passage that unnecessarily brings that passage into conflict with that which He has revealed elsewhere. So the governing principle of Reformed hermeneutics or interpretation is the analogy of faith.

Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org.

The Year Ahead: 2011 – Don Sweeting

This past weekend I was made aware of this blog and blogger (at WordPress, no less!) – “The Chief End of Man: Reflections on theology, worship, culture, history, and the church” by Don Sweeting. He is the newly appointed president of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Orlando, FL and professor of church history there. He is also an ordained minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (you did notice the quote from the Westminster Confession in his blog name, right?). He has some insightful and interesting reflections on the new year which I felt were worth linking to here. They relate to everything from population growth to economic recovery to persecution to anniversaries. So I introduce you to this new blog; perhaps we will refer to him more often this year. In any case, benefit from his post on the new year. And here is how he begins:

 

We are at the threshold of a new year.  What does it hold?  How do you view it—with fear or with confidence?   At the end of each year I like to peak ahead based on accelerating trends in our world, and based on planned events or anniversaries coming our way.  This is by no means comprehensive, but it is suggestive and may help you think wisely about the coming year.

World population approaches 7 billion Toward the end of the year we officially hit the 7b mark and there will be growing worry about an increasingly crowded planet with more demands on resources.

Globalization The pace of globalization continues as evidenced by an ever more complex interconnectedness among the nations.   Some say we are in a transition from the economic phase of globalization to the political phase where blocks and regions are working together more.  For Christians, we have entered what I call “the partnership century” of missions where a new world missionary force and global ministry teams will increasingly work together.

Urbanization In 2010 our world became officially more urban than rural.  Just over half of the world now lives in cities.  This trend will continue with the growth of mega cities and an expected 70% of the world being urban in 2050.  Urban ministry is more important than ever.

 

The Year Ahead: 2011 | The Chief End of Man.